Residents call for more action on falling trees
Glenwood residents want trees in the area to be inspected before another life is lost.
RESIDENTS in Glenwood are calling on the municipality to do something once and for all to stop trees from falling so often in the area.
Another tree fell over in Glenwood last week, smashing one of the entrances to Port Natal School in Queen Mary Avenue.
According to Heather Rorick from Bulwer Community Safety Forum, residents are fed up with the number of trees falling over and causing damage and injuries.
“Someone said two people already lost their lives in the past from trees falling on them in the area – they are getting scared as they say when walking or driving they could become the next victim of one of these trees. Residents say all the Parks Department does is trim the offending tree until the next one falls,” she said.
Rorick said residents were appealing to the city for all old tress in the area to be thoroughly inspected and sorted out as soon as possible.
“Many have said they have reported issues to the Parks Department, some say they have emailed or spoken to ward councillor Nicole Graham, but this is still a problem. Residents need to be kept informed on what is going to be done,” she said.
Rorick said another two trees had fallen over in the area over the festive season. One incident took place on 24 December, when a tree fell on a bakkie along Che Guevara Road, crushing the entire back of a bakkie.
Ward councillor, Nicole Graham, said the response from Parks regarding tree cutting had improved greatly in the past few months. “The vehicle is regularly seen in our community cutting and clearing trees, which used to be a rarity. However, there are so many trees needing attention that there have still been incidents which are very unfortunate. I will continue to work with Grahame Steele from Parks to try and deal with trees that urgently need attention. I often receive requests from residents and forward them to the department,” she said.
